Tape measure end hook for eliminating error in plane surfaces measuring

ABSTRACT

The tape measure end hook consist in a slidable hook composed by two pieces attached by rivets to the end of the a metallic tape measure for more accurate when measuring the dimension placed in/on plane surfaces. The metallic tape has the apertures for rivets shaped that the strained end of the rivets not exceed the bottom/lower surface of the tape for eliminating snagging on a work piece.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] a. Field of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to a tape measure having an (improvement of the) end hook device, eliminating therefore a measuring error.

[0006] b. Description of the Prior Art

[0007] The tape measure became an important tool for all measurements even is used in industry, building or at home. There is a large variety of tape measure produced by many manufactories worldwide. A usual tape measure has a hook at the end of the tape to hook onto the object being measured. Frequently is measured for example steel sheet to trace contour for cutting or machining and the base of measurement does not begin from the edge to hook the tape on it.

[0008] When the tape rule is used to measure in plane surfaces the measurement become uncomfortable because of the classical hook, which is bended at 90 degree and cannot be seated (placed) on the object. The “0” division of the tape rule will never be on the place the measurement have to starts. Any time when measure in plane surfaces an error that is not negligible appears as is shown in FIG. 4. There are inventions that solve just partially one of the problems. Exists tape rules having at the end a ring to hang it on a fixed point (screw, nail, etc) but cannot be hanged to an edge. Some inventions—for example US006052914—have solution for eliminating snagging on a work piece. However the solutions are complicated, sometime with many pieces and difficult to manufactured.

[0009] The invention herein solves both drawbacks the error in plane surfaces and the snagging on the rivets.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The advantages of the present invention are:

[0011] eliminates an error when measuring in plane surfaces.

[0012] eliminates snagging on the work piece.

[0013] a new concept and shape of the hook

[0014] simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0015] more easy to handle

[0016] These advantages can be understood by the following detailed description and drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0017]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tape measure;

[0019]FIG. 3 is sectional view taken of the longitudinal axis of the tape measure;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a view to show the error of a classic tape measure end hook;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a view to show how the new tape measure eliminates the error.

[0022]FIG. 6 is a view to show how to use the invention to hook it to the working piece.

LIST OF NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

[0023]6—tape rule

[0024]7—two apertures in free end 21 of the tape rule 6

[0025]8—rivets

[0026]9—through elongated bores in the bended piece 10

[0027]10—bended piece

[0028]11—vertical portion of the bended piece 10

[0029]12—through bores of the vertical portion 11 of the bended piece 10

[0030]13—sliding piece

[0031]14—rivets for sliding piece 13

[0032]15—bottom of the sliding piece 13

[0033]16—aperture of the sliding piece 13

[0034]17—top of the sliding piece 13

[0035]18—upper surface of the tape rule 6

[0036]19—lower surface of the tape rule 6

[0037]20—base side of the bended piece 10

[0038]21—free end of the tape rule 6

[0039]22—special shaped around the bores 7 of the free end 21 of the tape rule 6

[0040]23—groove of the sliding piece 13

[0041]24—outer part (surface) of the sliding piece 13

[0042]25—inner part (surface) of the sliding piece 13

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The present invention is generally presented at FIG. 1 in an exploded view and it comprises a tape rule 6 with an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 19, having at the free end 21 at least three through bores 7. The bended piece 10 has a base side 20, having at least three elongated through bores 25 on the longitudinal axis and a vertical side 11, bended at 90 degrees having two through bores 12 on the vertical axis. The bended piece 10 that is longitudinally slidable is placed on the free end 21 of the tape rules 6 and is affixed on it by at least two rivets 8 through the elongated bores 25 from the bended piece and through the bores 7 from the free end 21 of the tape 6. As easily can be seen in FIG. 3, the bores 7 from the free end 21 of the tape are so kind shaped 22 that the strained ends of the rivets 8 not exceed the lower surface 19 of the tape 6, being a proof way to prevent snagging of the working piece. The sliding piece 13, which is vertical, has a bottom 15, a top 17 and is perpendicular positioned with the inner part 25, to the free end 21 of the tape rule 6. The sliding piece is affixed to the bended piece by a system that allows it's sliding. In the figures shown is presented an example of a system compound by two rivets 14 mounted on the bended piece 10 through the aperture 16 from the sliding piece 13. The heads of the rivets 14 slides in a groove 23 made around the aperture from the sliding piece that the top of the rivets not exceeding the outer part (surface) 24 of the sliding piece 13 to eliminating error for interior measurements.

[0044] The main parts, bended piece 10 and sliding piece 13, affixed to the free end of the tape rule, compound the hook of the tape rule. For measurement in plane surfaces the bottom 15 of the sliding piece 13 have to be pushed up till stops that the sliding piece 13 and the lower surface 19 of the tape rule 6 will be in the same plane as is shown in FIG. 5. For measurement starting from an edge or border the sliding piece 13 have to be pushed down to can hook the end of the tape (FIG. 6). 

1. A metallic tape having the apertures for rivets shaped that the strained end of the rivets not exceed the lower surface of the tape.
 2. A banded-piece having the base side fixed with at least two rivets to the shaped apertures of the metallic tape (of tape measure), having a proof system to eliminating error for both interior and exterior measurements.
 3. A piece attached to the metallic banded-piece (claimed at point 2), by a system that permits a slide-movement along the vertical axis.
 4. A tape measure hook compound by bended piece claimed at claim 2 and a sliding piece claimed at claim 3, affixed together and attached to the free end of the tape rule. 